ALARMIST Synonyms: 47 Similar and Opposite Words

alarmist

noun

Definition of alarmist

as in extremist

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of alarmist An alarmist might worry about the possibility of an upcoming summer without baseball. — Andy McCullough, New York Times, 15 July 2026 What makes the fog metaphor credible rather than alarmist is who’s admitting it. — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 13 July 2026 Even temporary sales slumps breed alarmist pronouncements; book parties in disfavored genres begin to feel like wakes, sending off one more spirit to the inevitable afterworld of the remainder shelf. — Gal Beckerman, The Atlantic, 2 July 2026 The title struck some readers as alarmist. — Joseph Andrew, Forbes.com, 19 June 2026 But the film received criticism in the aftermath of its release, with some naysayers accusing it of being alarmist or exaggerated. — Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 16 June 2026 Gaspar took the unusual step of naming the teachers publicly, a move that Sanchez’s supporters call alarmist. — Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 3 May 2026 The longer the fighting and shipping disruptions last, the worse and more worrisome the cumulative impact becomes, and the more plausible the initial alarmist views about $200 crude oil and stagflation begin to seem. — Michael Santoli, CNBC, 30 Mar. 2026 Backers of historic cuts in property taxes for Florida homeowners call those kinds of predictions alarmist and say a drop in tax revenue will force local governments to cut back on high salaries, excessive hiring and frivolous spending. — Douglas Hanks march 13, Miami Herald, 13 Mar. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for alarmist

Noun

Rushdie has spent almost 40 years under threat of death from Islamic extremists after the Ayatollah Khomeini issued a fatwa against him, claiming Rushdie’s novel The Satanic Verses blasphemed Islam and mocked the Prophet Muhammad.

— Matthew Carey, Deadline, 14 July 2026
Labour lawmaker Jo Cox was shot and stabbed in 2016 by a far-right extremist, and Conservative David Amess was stabbed in 2021 by an attacker inspired by the Islamic State group.

— ABC News, ABC News, 14 July 2026

Definition of extremist

Noun

Based on the true story of a reform school where Black boys went missing, the novel pairs the stories of two teens, one a troublemaker and the other caught up by mistake.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 20 July 2026
She was cast as Athena, the class ‘troublemaker’ was Odysseus, and the school’s headmaster bumbled around, one-eyed, as the Cyclops.

— Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 17 July 2026

Definition of troublemaker

Noun

Pezeshkian, a reformist within Iran’s theocracy, is the highest-ranking official within Iran to reference the release of the funds held by Qatar.

— Jon Gambrell, Los Angeles Times, 29 June 2026
From that liminal moment emerged Mohammad Khatami, a former culture minister steeped in philosophy and theology, and a committed reformist.

— Alex Shams, Time, 14 Mar. 2026

Definition of reformist

Noun

June’s primary victories by left-wing candidates in New York have been described as a political earthquake, with insurgent socialists winning races statewide, including high-profile congressional victories and nearly a dozen more downballot.

— Danny Kaplowitz, New York Daily News, 20 July 2026
So far though, the prediction market insurgents have not meaningfully cut into sportsbook profits.

— Bobby Allyn, NPR, 17 July 2026

Definition of insurgent

Noun

Camino de Santiago blends history, spirituality and scenery on the route to the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, the resting place of the apostle Saint James.

— Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 10 July 2026
The Camino de Santiago in Spain Blending history, spirituality and scenery, the Camino de Santiago leads to the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, said to be the resting place of the apostle Saint James.

— Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 10 July 2026

Definition of apostle

Noun

Some proponents suggest that prediction markets could be an alternative to insurance, especially as insurers pull out of regions at high-risk for wildfire.

— Laura Paddison, CNN Money, 17 July 2026
Bell won the All-Star Race last year and was a massive proponent of North Wilkesboro Speedway landing on the points schedule.

— Alex Zietlow July 16, Charlotte Observer, 16 July 2026

Definition of proponent

Browse Nearby Words

alarmingly

alarmist

alarmists

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Alarmist.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/alarmist. Accessed 24 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of alarmist

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on alarmist

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

itinerant

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

The Words of the Week - Jul 24

Why do we say 'fly off the handle'?

Popular

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes